Seattle, Washington – June 8, 2026 – LMN and GSBS Architects are proud to announce a significant milestone in the realization of the John & Marcia Price Computing & Engineering Building, as the design is unveiled and construction advances on this transformative project. Designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence, the building will serve as a dynamic hub for research, learning, and community engagement—positioning the University of Utah as a leader in computing and engineering for the state and the Mountain West.

The John & Marcia Price Computing & Engineering Building establishes a new nexus for the Kahlert School of Computing at the University of Utah, serving as a catalyst for innovative new research while elevating the student experience. Prominently situated between the Health Sciences campus and the academic core, with sweeping views of Salt Lake City, the five-story building is poised to establish a new university hub for computing—one that will be a center of innovation and excellence for Utah and the Mountain West.

The building’s architectural expression is defined by a deliberate interplay of solid and void. Distinct brick volumes articulate research and office neighborhoods, while transparent “fissures” carve through the massing to demarcate building entries and shared collaboration spaces. These glazed interstitial zones are strategically positioned to promote daylight access, visual connectivity, and spontaneous interaction – fostering the exchange of ideas fundamental to contemporary computing research.

“We are thrilled to see the John & Marcia Price Computing & Engineering Building taking shape,” said Jennifer Milliron, Principal at LMN. “This project reflects a truly collaborative partnership with the University of Utah, GSBS Architects, Okland Construction Company, and our full consultant team. Together, we have created a design that supports cutting-edge research and learning while strengthening connection and community through open, light-filled spaces, flexible research neighborhoods, and welcoming public areas. We look forward with great excitement to the building’s opening next year and to the lasting impact it will have on students, faculty, and the broader community.”

“Every time I visit the construction site, I’m struck by the sheer scale and ambition of this project,” said Jesse Allen, Principal at GSBS Architects. “The John & Marcia Price Computing & Engineering Building is a testament to the University of Utah’s commitment to advancing engineering and computing education—not only for the campus, but for the entire State of Utah. This building will serve as a beacon for innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence, and we are honored to be part of a project that will have such a lasting impact on students, faculty, and the broader community.”

Designed to reinforce pedestrian connectivity, the building seamlessly integrates with existing campus pathways, offering at-grade access and activation on all four sides. Inside, the building is organized around a central large atrium space capped by a skylight that, along with strategically placed glazing, brings daylight into the heart of the building. Conceived as a community and café, this central core draws people into and through the building, establishing the space as a new social hub on campus. Serving as both a hub and a connector for the College of Engineering, the building links the Warnock Engineering Building to the west and the Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building to the east, strengthening connections across the campus and fostering collaboration among students, faculty, and visitors.

The program is organized around four overlapping hubs – Learning, Research, Student, and Fabrication. The first floor is devoted to large-scale learning environments, featuring a 400-, a 250-, and two 150-seat lecture halls. The heart of the building, the second floor, is the undergraduate student hub featuring a mix of essential student spaces including classrooms, project rooms, and an expansive maker-lab. Upper levels house the Kahlert School of Computing and affiliated research programs, organized into modular research neighborhoods comprising offices, specialized laboratories, graduate spaces, and collaborative areas. The building’s top floor houses a large event space designed for conferences, alumni events, and diverse campus activities as well as additional research neighborhoods. Beneath the building, an underground parking garage provides convenient access for students, faculty, and visitors. The 253,000-square-foot building is characterized by a pragmatic design that is highly flexible, a feature particularly evident in the modular configuration of the research-focused spaces. This approach enables office and lab spaces to accommodate evolving research requirements and technological advancements, ensuring the Price Computing & Engineering Building will serve the university now and well into the future.

Beyond its functional attributes, the building is envisioned as a campus destination welcoming students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community. With its prominent site and open, accessible design, the Price Computing & Engineering Building is positioned to become a center of gravity for engineering and computing advancement across Utah and the Mountain West, bringing together a diverse community of stakeholders to help shape the region’s technological future.

“The Price Computing and Engineering Building will be a game-changer for our students,” said Mary Hall, Director Kahlert School of Computing. “With spaces intentionally designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and hands-on learning, this building will empower both undergraduates and graduate students to push the boundaries of research and innovation. It’s an exciting new home for the next generation of computing leaders.”

The university celebrated the project’s groundbreaking in May 2024, with completion anticipated in 2027. The new building will house the Kahlert School of Computing as well as other engineering programs, including artificial intelligence, FinTech, cybersecurity, and emerging areas.

LMN is recipient of the 2016 AIA National Architecture Firm Award and is widely recognized for its design of projects that support smart, sustainable cities. The firm has designed over 154 projects on 52 campuses in the United States, including the Computing and Data Science Building at Stanford University; Computer Design, Research, and Learning Center at the University of Illinois Chicago; Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Building, University of California, Irvine; and the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering at University of Washington.

Learn more about the project here.